Saturday, November 4
Colorado Springs, Colo.
11:15 A.M.
Columbia University
vs
North Carolina
Photo by: Columbia University Athletics
Fencing Shines at Western Invitational
11/5/2023 7:25:00 PM | Fencing
The men post a perfect 8-0 record, while the women go 8-1 to kick off the collegiate season
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The Columbia fencing team started the 2023 season off with a bang after combining to go 16-1 at the Western Invitational, hosted by Air Force on November 4-5. The No. 2 men went undefeated at 8-0, while the No. 3 women were 8-1 at the event.
Madison Four-Garcia led the women, posting a 16-1 record over the two-day competition. Mina Yamanaka tied for the team lead with 16 wins in epee. On the men's side, Robert Vidovsky went 11-0 in sabre, while Ethan Kushernik (epee) and Enoch Xiao (foil) posted 13 bout victories.
"I'm proud of how we came together during the Western Invitational," said head coach Michael Aufrichtig. Facing strong competition, we could implement what we had been practicing this fall. Understanding things get harder from here, we will continue striving to maximize our potential for the 2023-2024 season."
The event started with a sweep of North Carolina Saturday morning. Men's sabre was dominant with Nick Harvey and Jackson McBride going 3-0 against the Tar Heels in a 21-6 decision. Tierna Oxenreider (epee) and Eveyln Cheng's (foil) 3-0 starts helped the women earn a 19-8 victory.
Round two featured wins over Stanford after the men dispatched the Cardinal, 18-9, and the women came away with a 22-7 triumph.
Arguably the best win of the day for the men came against No. 4 Ohio State. The Lions won sabre and epee, 6-3, and edged the Buckeyes in foil, 5-4, to take the win, 17-10. Ohio State's fifth-ranked women handed Columbia its first defeat, 17-10, after wins in foil and epee.
The women bounced back in a big way, topping San Diego 20-7 and the trio of Cheng, Alexandra Jing and Alanna Xue teamed up to go 9-0 in the matchup. Vidovsky's three wins over the Tritons in sabre pushed the men to a 17-10 decision.
The men's closest bout of the weekend came against Air Force. The Lions dropped foil and epee by 5-4 scores, however, Harley's perfect round helped sabre pick up a 7-2 win and push Columbia past the Falcons, 15-12. Women's sabre was also the x-factor against Air Force, going 8-1, to push the Lions to a 20-7 triumph.
Both teams closed the opening day with resounding wins over Incarnate Word to set up the final three rounds.
Women's epee went 9-0 en route to Columbia taking down Northwestern, 21-6, in the early Sunday round. The men were equally as effective in its second matchup against the Falcons, earning a decisive 22-5 victory.
In the middle frame, Christelle Ko and Cheng were perfect in foil as the women went on for a 21-6 victory over Brandeis. Epee gave the men some needed separation for the men in its contest with the Judge's, lifting the Lions to a 17-10 mark.
Four-Garcia capped her weekend against San Diego with three wins to give the women a victory in the final round, 19-8. The men's final round against Incarnate Word was not contested.
The Lions will host their lone home meet of the season when it welcomes NJIT, Stevens and Johns Hopkins to the Dodge Fitness Center on Saturday, November 18 at the Columbia Invitational.
For the latest on Columbia's fencing programs, follow @CULionsFencing on Twitter and Instagram and the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.
Western Invitational – Hosted by Air Force
November 4-5
Colorado Springs, Colo.
Team Results
Men
Columbia 21, North Carolina 6
Columbia 18, Stanford 9
Columbia 17, Ohio State 10
Columbia 17, San Diego 10
Columbia 15, Air Force 12
Columbia 24, Incarnate Word 3
Columbia 22, Air Force 5
Columbia 17, Brandeis 10
Columbia vs. Incarnate Word - Canceled
Women
Columbia 19, North Carolina 8
Columbia 20, Stanford 7
Columbia 10, Ohio State 17
Columbia 20, San Diego 7
Columbia 20, Air Force 7
Columbia 20, Incarnate Word 7
Columbia 21, Northwestern 6
Columbia 21, Brandeis 6
Columbia 19, San Diego 8
Madison Four-Garcia led the women, posting a 16-1 record over the two-day competition. Mina Yamanaka tied for the team lead with 16 wins in epee. On the men's side, Robert Vidovsky went 11-0 in sabre, while Ethan Kushernik (epee) and Enoch Xiao (foil) posted 13 bout victories.
"I'm proud of how we came together during the Western Invitational," said head coach Michael Aufrichtig. Facing strong competition, we could implement what we had been practicing this fall. Understanding things get harder from here, we will continue striving to maximize our potential for the 2023-2024 season."
The event started with a sweep of North Carolina Saturday morning. Men's sabre was dominant with Nick Harvey and Jackson McBride going 3-0 against the Tar Heels in a 21-6 decision. Tierna Oxenreider (epee) and Eveyln Cheng's (foil) 3-0 starts helped the women earn a 19-8 victory.
Round two featured wins over Stanford after the men dispatched the Cardinal, 18-9, and the women came away with a 22-7 triumph.
Arguably the best win of the day for the men came against No. 4 Ohio State. The Lions won sabre and epee, 6-3, and edged the Buckeyes in foil, 5-4, to take the win, 17-10. Ohio State's fifth-ranked women handed Columbia its first defeat, 17-10, after wins in foil and epee.
The women bounced back in a big way, topping San Diego 20-7 and the trio of Cheng, Alexandra Jing and Alanna Xue teamed up to go 9-0 in the matchup. Vidovsky's three wins over the Tritons in sabre pushed the men to a 17-10 decision.
The men's closest bout of the weekend came against Air Force. The Lions dropped foil and epee by 5-4 scores, however, Harley's perfect round helped sabre pick up a 7-2 win and push Columbia past the Falcons, 15-12. Women's sabre was also the x-factor against Air Force, going 8-1, to push the Lions to a 20-7 triumph.
Both teams closed the opening day with resounding wins over Incarnate Word to set up the final three rounds.
Women's epee went 9-0 en route to Columbia taking down Northwestern, 21-6, in the early Sunday round. The men were equally as effective in its second matchup against the Falcons, earning a decisive 22-5 victory.
In the middle frame, Christelle Ko and Cheng were perfect in foil as the women went on for a 21-6 victory over Brandeis. Epee gave the men some needed separation for the men in its contest with the Judge's, lifting the Lions to a 17-10 mark.
Four-Garcia capped her weekend against San Diego with three wins to give the women a victory in the final round, 19-8. The men's final round against Incarnate Word was not contested.
The Lions will host their lone home meet of the season when it welcomes NJIT, Stevens and Johns Hopkins to the Dodge Fitness Center on Saturday, November 18 at the Columbia Invitational.
For the latest on Columbia's fencing programs, follow @CULionsFencing on Twitter and Instagram and the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.
Western Invitational – Hosted by Air Force
November 4-5
Colorado Springs, Colo.
Team Results
Men
Columbia 21, North Carolina 6
Columbia 18, Stanford 9
Columbia 17, Ohio State 10
Columbia 17, San Diego 10
Columbia 15, Air Force 12
Columbia 24, Incarnate Word 3
Columbia 22, Air Force 5
Columbia 17, Brandeis 10
Columbia vs. Incarnate Word - Canceled
Women
Columbia 19, North Carolina 8
Columbia 20, Stanford 7
Columbia 10, Ohio State 17
Columbia 20, San Diego 7
Columbia 20, Air Force 7
Columbia 20, Incarnate Word 7
Columbia 21, Northwestern 6
Columbia 21, Brandeis 6
Columbia 19, San Diego 8
Players Mentioned
SABRE
/ Fencing
SABRE
/ Fencing
FOIL
/ Fencing
FOIL
/ Fencing
SABRE
/ Fencing
EPEE
/ Fencing
FOIL
/ Fencing
FOIL
/ Fencing
EPEE
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